Hanger for emergency equipment



Feb. 24, 1942. R. E. WEAVER v HANGER FOR EMERVENCY EQUIPMENT Filed-1pm 19, 1941 Tral atented Feb. 24, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;-

` HANGER Fon EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT Ralph E. Weaver, Lewistown, Pa.

Application April 19, 1941, Serial No. 389,458 `9 ,Claims. (Cl. 248-203) This invention Arelates to article supports or hangers, and, more particularly, to hangers for reextinguishers or other emergency equipment.

Fire extinguishers customarily are supported or hung on a bracket or hanger .of such construction that the extinguisher may be readily removed for use in case of necessity. Obviously, any vre extinguisher so supported or hung in position and apparentlyready for use should be charged with extinguishing fluid, and a general object of the present invention is to provide a support or hanger which is adapted automatically to be disabled for receiving an extinguisher after the latter has been removed from the hook, requiring the conditioning of the hanger by a responsible person for again receivingand supporting the extinguisher. Because the hanger thus automatically becomes disabled or rendered incapable of receiving the extinguisher as soon as the extinguisher has been removed from the hook, it is not possible for an unauthorized person to replace the extinguisher.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hanger of the `character described which is of rugged construction and which is positive in its operation and is adapted to be constructed of non-corrosive materials so as to dispense with the necessity of using springs `or other parts which cannot easily be made of non-corrosive materials.

Other objects will become apparent from a reading ofthe following detailed description', the appended claims, and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of `a hangerembodying the invention shown as applied to a wall, and showing also a bail or handle of a fire extinguisher supported by the hanger; f

.Figure 2 isa side elevation 'of the equipment shown in Figurel Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figurev 5 and showing an operating key in one position;

- Figure 3a is a fragmentary sectional view also on the line `3 3 of Figure 5, and showing the operating key in another position;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-4 of Figure 5;

lFigure 5 is a central vertical sectional view of a hanger embodying the invention and showing the parts in the positions occupied when a re extinguisher or the like is supported on the hanger;

Figure 6 isa view similar to Figure 5but showing the positions occupied by the parts when the `ses `extinguisher or other supported article has been removed from its position of support on the hanger;

Figure 7 is a plan View, partly in section, of an operating key; and

Figure 8 is an end elevation of the key shown in Figure 7. y As an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the drawing shows a-hanger A secured to a wall generally designated B and supporting a re extinguisher generally designated C.

The hanger comprises a support including a back plate I terminating at its lower end in a hook shank 2 continuing through a hook loop 3 to an upturned hook free end portion 4. The hook opens upwardly to receive the bail 5 of the .extinguisher C, and the free end portion of the hook is cut away as at 6 for a purpose to be set forth later.

Fixed with respect to the hanger support and, in this instance, integral therewith, is a housing including a top wall I, side walls 8 and 9, and an upper' front wall I0. The bottom edges of the side Walls 8 and 9 are disposed horizontally and extend across and above the hook opening in spaced relation to the top ofthe free end portion '4; As thus disposed, these bottom portions constitute `blocking parts which'limit upward movement of the bail 5 but are spaced suiciently above the hookfree end portion to provide clearance, permitting movement of the bail 5 horizontally between the top of the free end portion and the bottom edges of the side walls 8 and 9.

A blocking member generally designated II is pivoted as at I2 on the front wall IU, and at its lower end is formed with a horizontal part I3 and with two spaced, vertically extending parts I4 and I5. -The' part I4 normally extends alongside the hook shank 2 and. between the latterand the bail 5, as 'shown in Figure 5. The vertically extending part I5 normally is in the position shown in Figure 5, in which it spans the clearance between the bottom edges of the walls 8 and 9 and the top of the hook free end portion. When it is desired to remove the fire extinguisher from the hanger, the extinguisher is raised until the top part of the bail 5 is at a level above the top of the hook free end portion 4, and the bail is then moved away from the hook shank to the position shown in Figure 6, the bail thereby being positioned free of the hook, whereupon the extinguisher may be lowered and put into use. Movement of the bail to the position shown in Figure 6 is accompanied by outward swinging movement of the member II, which positions the blocking part I4 so as to span the clearance between the hook free end portion and the lower edges of the side walls 8 and 9.

In order to prevent the extinguisher from being returned to the hanger, means are provided for locking the member II in the position shown in Figure 6 in response to movement of the blocking member to this position. In the form shown, a Weight I'I is mounted to slide between guide bars I8 secured to the support. Normally, the weight II is in an elevated position, as shown in Figure 5, wherein it engages an inclined part I9 of the member I I which maintains the weight in its elevated position. The member II normallyv is restrainedV against outward swinging movement by engagement of the lower end of the blocking part I4 with the bail 5, asV shown in Figure 5. When the bail is lifted and moved outwardly, the weight I'I pushes downwardly on the inclined part I9 and cams the member II to the position shown in Figure 6, the weight nally coming to rest on a limiting flange 20. The bar I6 extending across the top of the hook free end portion 4 is engaged by the blocking part I4 for limiting the outward swinging movement of the member II. When the parts have moved to the positions shown in Figure 6 it vwill not be possible to return them to the positions shown in Figure without rst raising the weight I'I.

Preferably, means for raising the weight are so constructed that the weight can be raised only by the use of a key or similar device entrusted to one responsible for seeing that the extinguisher is refilled before being replaced on the hanger. To this end the weight is provided with a rack 2l adapted to slide between guide flanges 22-22. A pinion 23 in mesh with the rack 2| is fast-with the shaft 24 journaled in the guide bars I8 and provided with a square, key-receiving, end portion 25 aligned with an opening 26 in the housing wall S. A key 2'I provided with a squared opening 28 adapted to t over the squared end 25 of the shaft is adapted to be engaged with the shaft for manual rotation thereof and lifting of the weight Il. In order to maintain the weight in its elevated position temporarily while replacing the extinguisher on the hanger, the housing is formed with a slot 25 adapted to receive an exterior lug 3i) on the key shank. The arrangement is such that the key must first be engaged with the shaft and the latter rotated to raise the weight to the position shown in Figure 5, after which the key is slid in further over the shaft 25 until the lug 35 moves into the slot 29, whereby the key and shaft will be restrained against rotation, thus enabling the operator to use both hands in replacing the extinguisher on the hanger. After the extinguisher has been placed on the hanger, the member II will have been moved to the position shown in Figure 5, wherein the inclined portion I9 engages the weight I1, preventingthe weight from moving downwardly, and the key may then be withdrawn.

It will be observed that the vertically extending part I4 at the bottomy of the member II constitutes a blocking part which, when in the position shown in Figure 6, spans the clearance space between the hook free end portion 4 and the bottom edges of the walls 8 and 9. The vertically extending part I5 of the member II constitutes a guard which spans the clearance space when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 5, thereby preventing or rendering it difficult for anyone to place any other object on the hook which might interfere with removal of the iire extinguisher. The guard I5 also is engageable by the bail 5 when the extinguisher is removed from the hook, whereby the member II may be positively swung to its blocking position.

The parts normally will be positioned as shown in Figure 5. In order to remove the nre extinguisher from the hanger, the extinguisher is raised until the top of the bail 5 is above the level of the hook free end portion 4, and the hook and bail are then moved outwardly away from the wall. The bail 5 will engage the guard I5, positively moving the member II outwardly to the position shown in Figure 6, such movement being assisted by the camming action of the weight I'I which moves downwardly to its lower position as shown in Figure 6. The blocking part I4 then spans the clearance between the hook and bottom edges of the side walls 8 and 9, rendering it impossible to replace the bail and extinguisher, and the weight I1 will hold the member II in its Figure 6 position. After the extinguisher has been relled, an operator having the key 21 inserts the key through the opening 26 and over the squared Vend 25 of the shaft, but pushes the key inwardly only until driving engagement with the shaft has been effected without moving the lug 30 into the slot 29. The shaft and pinion are then turned until the weight has been restored to its elevated position, and the key is then pushed inwardly until the lug 3U enters the slot 29. This will hold the shaft and pinion against turning, and the extinguisher may be placed on the hook, the member II then being returned to its Figure 5 position, after which the key may be removed.

The construction shown herein embodies the invention in its now preferred form, but it will be understood that various changes may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a supporting hanger of the class described, a relatively xed supporting hook having a shank portion and a free end portion; a first blocking part adapted to extend across and in spaced relation to the hook opening with clearance between said blocking portion and the hook free end portion for permitting insertion and withdrawal of an article to be supported; and a second blocking part extending substantially at right angles to said rst .blocking part and being mounted for pivotal movement to a rst position adjacent said hook shank portion and `to a second position substantially spanning the clearance between the hook free end portion and said rst blocking part.

2. In a supporting hanger of the class described, a relatively fixed supporting hook opening upwardly and including a shank portion and a free end portion; a rst blocking part extending substantially horizontally across the hook opening and in vertically spaced relation to said free end portion to provide clearance between said first blocking part and said freeu end portion; a second blocking part normally positioned adjacent said shank portion; a guard normally positioned to substantially close said clearance; and means mounting said second blocking part and said guard to move to other positions in which said second blocking part substantially spans said clearance and said guard does not span said clearance.

3. In a supporting hanger of the class described, a relativelyA fixed supporting hook opening upwardly and including a shank portion and a free end portion; a rst blocking part extending substantially horizontally across the hook opening and in vertically spaced relation to said free end portion to provide clearance between said first blockingr part and said free end portion; a member comprising a second blocking part normally positioned adjacent said shank portion and `a guard normally positioned to substantially close said clearance; and means mounting said member pivotally to move to a position in which said second blocking part substantially spans said clearance and said guard is disposed away from the clearance.

4. In a supporting hanger of the class described, a relatively Xed supporting hook opening upwardly and including a shank portion and a free end portion; a rst blocking part extending substantially horizontally across the hook opening and in vertically spaced relation to said free end portion to provide clearance between said first blocking part and said free end portion;

ya second blocking part normally positioned adjacent said shank portion; a guard normally'positioned to substantially close said clearance; means mounting said second blocking part and said guard to move to other positions in which said second blocking part substantially spans said clearance and said guard does Ynot span said clearance; and means operable automatically in response to movement of said second blocking part and said guard for preventing return'thereof to said iirst named positions.

l 5. In a supporting hanger of the class described, a relatively fixed supporting hook opening upwardly and including a free end portion; blocking means including a part normally positioned so as to permit movement of a supported article from the hook and over the free end portion thereof; means mounting said blockingy scribed, a relatively xed supporting hookin-v ycluding a free end portion; blocking means eX- tending from a level substantially above said free end portion to a level not substantially thereabove and including a part adapted normally to be positioned so as to permit removal of a supported article from said hook and over said free end portion; means mounting vsaid `blocking means to shift relativelyl to said hook to' place said part in a second position in which it obstructs movement of said article over said free end portion; a weight engageable with said blocking means when its said part is in its normal position for maintaining said weight elevated; and means mounting said Weight to be movable downwardly to a lower position in response to said shiftingv of said blocking means,

said weight when in its lower position obstructing `return movement of said blocking means.

7. In a hanger of the class described, a support adapted to receive an article to be hung; a blocks ing part normally positioned so as to permit rey moval of said article from said support; means mounting said blocking part formovement to a second position in which it prevents placing of said article on said support; a normally elevated weight; means mounting said weight to move to a lower position in response to movement of said blocking part to its said second position, said weight when in its lower position preventing return of said blocking part to its normal position; and means for elevating said weight including a rack on said weight, and a key-operableypinion journaled to rotate about an axis fixed with respect to said support.

8. In a hanger of the class described, a support adapted to receive an article to be hung; a blocking part normally positioned so as to permit removal of said article from said support; means mounting said blocking part for movement to a shaft; and a key opening in said housing aligned with said key-receiving shaft end.

9. In a hanger of the class described, asupport l adapted to rreceive an article to be hung; a blocking part normally positioned so as to permit removal of ksaid varticlefrom said support; means mounting said blocking part for movement to a -second position invwhichfit prevents placing of said article on said support; a normally elevatedy weight; means mounting said weight to move to a lower position in response to movement of said blocking part to its said second position, said weight when in its lower position preventing return of said blocking part to its normal position; a rack connected to said weight; a pinion meshing with said rack; a shaft journaling Asaid pinion on said support and having a key-receiving end; a housing xedy with respect to said support and enclosing said rack, pinion, and shaft; a key opening in said housing aligned with said key-receiving shaft end; a slot in said housing; and a key formed to engage said shaftk end and having an exterior lug engageable at will in said slot for maintaining said key and shaft against rotation. f 4

RALPH E. WEAVER. 

